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Ardbeg Perpetuum Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 47.40%. Tasted at home, $35 (100mL bottle split, courtesy of the International Beer Shop in Perth).
Happy Ardbeg Day everyone!! Thought it fitting that I dig up this little beauty which I’ve had kicking around in the collection for 12 months now. The Ardbeg Perpetuum was actually the distillery’s Ardbeg Day release from 2015, commemorating their 200th anniversary. I’ve yet to try their 2016 Ardbeg Day release, “Dark Cove” (Sam Dunn hurry up and send it!), looking forward to getting stuck into that too.
Colour: A very pale straw.
Nose: Delightfully contrasting and complex. There’s a hint of char grilled bacon (hmmm, bacon *drool*), interspersed with raspberry sherbet and lemon crumble. Some very faint smoked trout aromas, sawdust from a freshly lopped tree…honestly the more I nose it the more my mind races to some very un-whisky like descriptions. Impressive stuff.
Palate: A cool, crisp entry with a quick build in flavour and a satisfying warm tingle around the lips and entire front of the mouth (not just the palate). Dark honey combines with meaty and woody notes – like a honeyed lamb skewer that’s been flame grilled on the BBQ.
Finish: The renowned Ardbeg peatiness finally emerges, though it’s more organic flavours rather smokey. The salty tang lingers long, along with some straw and lemon tanginess too.
Comments: It’s more subtle than your typical Ardbeg, and that’s a good thing. I’m a big fan of Ardbeg, but in the past I’ve felt some of their expressions are a little too similar. The Ardbeg Perpetuum is refreshingly different, and it’s a cracking dram. With only 12,000 bottles produced, I wish I’d had the foresight to grab more than just a 100mL bottle split.